FLR was hired as design build contractor to design, permit, and construct a stream restoration project on Buck Creek at the confluence with the White River in Yorktown, Indiana. The stream was suffering from severe bank erosion and channel aggradation. To address two of the area of erosion, the Town of Yorktown installed concrete blocks along the banks in an attempt to deter the bank erosion. However, the blocks were installed without proper permitting, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) levied civil fines against the Town.

FLR helped guide the Town through the environmental permit process to help bring them into compliance with IDEM. Due to the location of the project, FLR and the Town kept land owners adjacent to the project informed of project progress from design through construction.

FLR utilized the natural channel design methodology to restore approximately 700 linear feet of degraded stream channel. The stream design included not only the removal of the concrete blocks , but also addressed the unstable channel conditions through the integration of a proper bankfull cross section, constructed riffles, rock j-hooks, soil lifts, and live staking. Riffles were utilized to dissipated stream energy. J-hooks were strategically placed to dissipate stream energy, protect stream banks, and create pool habitat downstream of the structure. Vegetated geolifts were utilized to create a live hardened bank that would deter future bank erosion. All structures were built with locally sourced material as well as material utilized from on-site.